Page 16 of An Angel's Share
I’ve still got lots of planning to finish off for the meeting. I’m trying not to bother my dad with it all, so am trawling the accounts and back meeting notes to see what if any plans are in place to stop the rot. We haven’t had a board meeting since I got back a few months ago. They should be quarterly, but I just missed the last one. And as things are so urgent, I called an extraordinary one, as the meeting by rights shouldn’t be until late September.
Everything runs through my mind as I survey the breakfast items spread out as usual on the side tables. Only the eggs are made to order at breakfast, not that I am eating them at the moment. So I pile my plate high with a bizarre mix of hot and cold food. My eating habits are all over the place. Mammy glares at my weird platter, and Liam, who is sitting on her right, catches sight of her face. He decides it’s a good idea to question my food choices.
“I’ll eat what I feel like, Liam.” I contradict his attempt at an edict. “I’ve got a busy morning and I need to stock up my energy. If I eat this now, I can hang on until at least…lunch.”
Mammy pales at the thought of me devouring yet more food. “Well don’t forget to get some fresh air and exercise,” she states, as if my well-being is her only purpose in life. “I’m taking your father out for a stroll around the gardens. Why don’t you join us.” Her eyes firmly fix on my decreasing platter, and my increasing waistline.
“Yes, darling, that would be so good for you. I can have a look over your work project. No need for you to be bothered with it,” Liam chimes in, simpering up to Mammy. She looks at him all dewy eyed.
“I need to go to the distillery today. Need to check inwith the team. We have a new batch of mash, and Marshall wants to go, so I’m going with him. So unless you want to bring Daddy with you to that?—”
Her face goes purple instantly. I’m shocked. How she’s not on heart pills, I will never know. Mammy has the constitution of an ox. I’m just about to tell her as much when she shrieks, “No, absolutely not. Your father is going nowhere near that damned distillery, regardless of Marshall. I’ve told him— Darling, there you are.” She interrupts her own rant, her voice going from crazed to calm in comic fashion as my dad arrives. Mammy jumps up to fix a plate for him. Is he a five-year-old again? I grin at her antics.
“Mae, I can get my own food. Please sit. And did you say you are off to the distillery, Aoife? Marshall and Jonno are going, so I’m happy to accompany you.”
I widen my eyes at his bravery, and side eye my mammy, who has now gone red in the face and is about to explode.
“Now Mae, it was not the distillery that made me ill. It’s age, and probably too much good living.” He pats his trim tummy. “I want to show Marshall some items we picked up in America.”
Daddy looks bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning. I think it must be Marshall being here. He always cheers Dad up. He’s so calming, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge about whiskey and how to make things better. I know I always feel better whenever I see or talk to him. I wish he’d come home.
Marshall and Jonno come through the door. Marshall looks very handsome in his jeans and a very fine white shirt.
“Wow, Uncle Marshall, you look very handsome this morning.” I wave my hand up and down in front of him. “Very rock and roll with your jeans and shirt and boots. Youcould be in a band dressed like that.” I grin at him as he smiles at me. His hair is slightly long, and is curling up at the ends. He looks like an older trendy rock star. Maybe his family is rubbing off on him.
“I’ve hunted high and low for my old T-shirts and fleece, but they seem to be missing.” He side-eyes Jonno, who is grinning at him. “Did Midarlin’ steal my clothes again? I seem only to have shirts and jeans and a couple of those thin jumpers she likes. She’s dressing me again, isn’t she?” He smiles so lovingly when he talks about his daughter, and Jonno’s grin broadens as he acknowledges the truth.
“She’s a control freak, Marsh. I have to check my bags to keep her out of them.” They’re both laughing about Evie, discussing their packing arrangements.
“You’d have thought she’d be too busy to be checking in on your cases,” Liam, who I think has a death wish, puts in, smirking toward Patrick. Clearly they’ve shared personal commentary on Evie, gossiping about her in the past.
“She’s just had a baby, Liam, so of course she’s busy.” I deliberately misread his intentions, as Maggie, who has her jaw wide open at the sight of Uncle Marshall in rockstar mode, sputters into life.
“I’m happy to show you around, Marshall. I can take you shopping if you need new T-shirts. I know you don’t come over often, but there are some lovely spots to revisit.” Maggie can’t take her eyes off Marshall's corded forearms as he rolls up his sleeves. Clearly some of those horses at home take some holding. Mammy rolls her eyes at Maggie’s unsubtle attempt to get Marshall on some sort of date.
“I’m sorry, Maggie. Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got distillery business today. I’ll manage with the shirts.” He grins at her, looking ten years younger than his actual age.
Maggie nearly falls off her chair. Her tongue weighs her down as it hangs from her mouth.
His phone rings with a FaceTime call, and his face changes to one of total softness and love. I think Maggie just orgasmed on the spot.
“I’ll just take this,” he says to the room at large and walks out into the hall. “Midarlin’, all okay?” we hear him say.
I smile to myself. This lot better start to read the room. If Liam thinks he can continue to make comments and get away with it, he will be in for a rude awakening.
Marshall suddenly sticks his head back around the door. “Jonno,” he nods for Jonno to join him, and they both leave the breakfast room.
“Well she’s got them clearly on the hop,” Mammy pipes up. “Nice try, Maggie. I admire your tenacity.”
Maggie pouts towards her. “Well, I could live in England at a push. That shirt looks stunning. He’s so stylish these days. I can’t remember him being that stylish when we were younger.” She’s fluffing her hair.
Mammy shakes her head at Maggie. “Clearly the daughter is dressing him.”
“Well she’s doing it really well. And his hair looks so trendy. Most men his age are bald or totally grey. He clearly won the lottery on hair in this family.” Maggie is watching the door like a hawk, sorting her hair and make-up out. Getting ready for her next attack.
“Well, I think we need to meet this woman who controls all these men. They seem to run around her like lap dogs. What do you say, Patrick?” Liam, still as blind and deaf as ever to the situation, looks to Patrick. They’re both grinning like school boys. They clearly forgot that Daddy is at the table.
“I hope you’re not both being unpleasant. I would notlike to think that you would make fun of a family member, Liam.” Daddy is glaring at them. As am I. Who the hell do they think they are? Evie clearly looks after Marshall, and you can see by how they talk about her that she is their world.
